I had the 'killer' tester.
I recall one practical session, when my instructor pointed at one of the 'on TP test' cars and told me that "He's the killer tester. Name's Mr Tan. Passed the least number of students." He told me that I'd know him from the way he likes to put his arm out of the window during tests. I prayed that I wouldn't get him come my test day.
But I did. Mr Tans are a-plenty, but I happened to get *the* one Mr Tan.
Right after I started the engine this morning, my tester wound down the window and placed his hand out. I glanced at his name tag. shit. I was calm then, but my heart started beating hard and my palms started to sweat.
I had 10 points from the circuit courses - when I could usually get by without a single point. I gained a check in the 'stike kerb' box for my directional change... my initial positioning was a bit too far to the front. I knew my mark - I knew where I usually turned, but it was 'cos the instructor from the earlier morning warm-up (I never had him before) said that my positioning was too far back, and I should station further to the front. His advice costed me 10 points. Argh!
I thought my performance on the road was something my instructors would have been proud of, but the tester kept writing on my assessment checklist. Did I forget to check my blind spot? Was my turning too wide? Did I move off too slowly? I thought I failed at first, for Mr Tan hopped out of the car and slammed the door behind him right after I parked the car back at the centre; I haven't even put the gear to P! I hurried after him, and went back to the office where he tallied my checklist.
"First timer?"
"Yes." (I bit my lip - I knew they were harsh on first-timers.)
"How many practical lessons did you have?"
"16."
"16 lessons then can go driving already one ah?" (Was 16 lessons little?)
"Well... did I pass?"
"Go to room 1 and watch the video." (Only 'graduates' were invited to watch the post-test video.)
So I passed. Passed all my tests at the first go... I've been lucky.
Mom let me drive back from Shaw today. My first time on the roads proper... a bit nervous.
No time to celebrate and have another run; we're leaving for Shanghai tomorrow morn. Coming back on the 4th, so here's wishing everyone a happy new year in advance. :)
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Monday, December 26, 2005
Saturday, December 24, 2005
The day before Christmas Eve
There was a gathering... a reunion... a coming-together of old friends.Never have I seen so many old familiar faces in Singapore, all at one go... in the same place. I like to use the phrase 'warm and fuzzy'. It felt like that. It felt like I could just be myself; no need to shy away or overdo the friendliness. Most of them did not change as much as I had expected (feared?) them to... many looked almost exactly as they looked five years ago, but some were noticeably more 'grown-up' (hee). Everyone still talks the same, walks the same, laughs the same...
Socialising progressed quickly from the small talk ("Where are you now, what are you studying?") to chats of old times and practically to anything that popped into mind.
It was overwhelming. I was feeling so soo happy.
Many asked "Where did you find her [me]?" as if I was lost. Perhaps I was, having prematuredly left sec school and then... disappearing into somewhere down under or up there, nobody knew. I thought that was it, that only less than a handful would remain from th TK circle of friends. That ZF, Jeanne and ThiHa would be the only other people I could hang out with in Singapore. This isolation was due to a certain lack of effort on my part to find and get in touch with my old friends, but after the footrace of an academic term, I just wish to cocoon myself at home and have some R&R. .. and have some peace and solitude.
The night reeked of a girlishness which I have not experienced for a very long time. Being in Imperial for too long does that to you - you're so used to being outnumbered by the guys that when you suddenly find yourself in a company of 100% girls... it feels... weird. But you feel free. :P
Thanks for a great night - it was the best, and for the realisation that we're all still here. :) We were TKG 2/4 class of '99, and we'll always be.
Ps. I'll upload the photos after all the madness with the celebrations. Here's the group pic to begin with; msg me if you'd like the high-res ones.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Orchard Road
A random shot of two people sitting on a bench, reading the papers.
I soooo can't do street photog. I'm shy. Hee. Whipping out a dSLR and pointing some fat lens at people is bound to get you some glares and hey-you're-invading-my-privacy looks. Especially in Singapore. In London, people wouldn't batter half an eyelid whether you're taking a shot of them, or their neighbour. People mind their own business.
It was exactly one year ago when the four of us last had the chance to meet up. It's now been five years since TKG...
Everyone's more or less the same - Tania and Lydia haven't been particularly Aussienised, neither have their looks or styles changed. As for ZF... whom I meet every term break... I nearly couldn't recognise her from afar since she had her hair unexpectedly dyed!
Mmm... I hear there's a class 2/4 gathering tomorrow...
Everyone's more or less the same - Tania and Lydia haven't been particularly Aussienised, neither have their looks or styles changed. As for ZF... whom I meet every term break... I nearly couldn't recognise her from afar since she had her hair unexpectedly dyed!
Mmm... I hear there's a class 2/4 gathering tomorrow...
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Once every so often you meet somebody from the other end of the spectrum. As in, personality-wise. The moment you meet, you know that it's gonna be a test of endurance and your diplomactic, people skills.
Monica my ex- high school roommate stopped by for a day in Singapore, on her way to Sydney. While here she met up with another friend of hers, a 16-year-old Singaporean, now in high school in Sydney. The three of us rambled along Orchard Road (where else could we go?). This particular 16-year-old, she looked (or dressed, or put on make-up) a few years older. Once I saw her, I knew that she was the type. We were at the Heeren, and she said she wanted to get a top. What sort of top? She didn't know. Any top. She just wanted a new top for that night. She was gonna go clubbing. Chinablack. And she's only 16. So the first shop we went into (Mon and I were just tagging along), she tried on tight-fitting top which read I *heart* boobs. The second outlet we went into, she tried on first a black, then a white, laced tube. And all the while she kept complaining that she's fat. Like hell she's fat. If she's fat, I'm obese.
Well finally she got her stuff, and we continued on our way to... nowhere in particular. Just walking along the streets aimlessly. It was then that I learnt she was afraid of birds. Anything with feathers... anything that flies. A pigeon landed close to her. She screamed a shrill scream. My ears squinted - well if they could, they would have. I sighed.
We were right outside Wheelock Place. I knew that the Nature Photographic Society (Singapore) was holding a nature photog exhibition at epSITE, so I thought - why not? Since both Mon and I were into photography.
At the gallery, I was admiring an image of a Pink-necked green pigeon, with its fledgings in a nest. Behind me, the friend squirmed, "Eewww. Yucks. Yucks. That is so disgusting. That's so gross. Eww." I turned around, thinking that she was referring to another picture, of an insect perhaps, but nooo... she was looking at the same pigeon photo. She just kept ewww-ing. I looked at her fixedly, "Please do not say it is disgusting. This is my field of work... this is what I study and do. Do not... call it disgusting." She kept quiet. I look on. Monica patted my back.
I don't usually talk about people on my blog - I don't like to rant about people, if ever, publicly. I don't get offended that easily. But this time... It was barely 4 hours with her and that short period of time was enough to make me feel repelled. My tones and words became cold, and harsh. I was firm. I was disgusted at such immature behaviour (there was more throughout the day) and I just wanted to run away. And c'mon... you're 16... what rush is there to go clubbing? Especially if you're so afraid of getting caught. And what's with all those massively huge square earrings? And random whiney noises? And saying that this year's X'mas decorations are pretty (I personally find them quite horrendous and tasteless)? And... aww, give me a break.
But I wonder if such fashion-fad-conscious people look at us nature freaks with distaste too. Maybe something like There's more to life than just grass and butterflies. There's... shopping and dollying up!. Heh.
That aside, it was really good seeing Mon again. Neither of us has changed much... we still see the old us in each other. Nevermind about that friend. No worries, mate. :)
Monica my ex- high school roommate stopped by for a day in Singapore, on her way to Sydney. While here she met up with another friend of hers, a 16-year-old Singaporean, now in high school in Sydney. The three of us rambled along Orchard Road (where else could we go?). This particular 16-year-old, she looked (or dressed, or put on make-up) a few years older. Once I saw her, I knew that she was the type. We were at the Heeren, and she said she wanted to get a top. What sort of top? She didn't know. Any top. She just wanted a new top for that night. She was gonna go clubbing. Chinablack. And she's only 16. So the first shop we went into (Mon and I were just tagging along), she tried on tight-fitting top which read I *heart* boobs. The second outlet we went into, she tried on first a black, then a white, laced tube. And all the while she kept complaining that she's fat. Like hell she's fat. If she's fat, I'm obese.
Well finally she got her stuff, and we continued on our way to... nowhere in particular. Just walking along the streets aimlessly. It was then that I learnt she was afraid of birds. Anything with feathers... anything that flies. A pigeon landed close to her. She screamed a shrill scream. My ears squinted - well if they could, they would have. I sighed.
We were right outside Wheelock Place. I knew that the Nature Photographic Society (Singapore) was holding a nature photog exhibition at epSITE, so I thought - why not? Since both Mon and I were into photography.
At the gallery, I was admiring an image of a Pink-necked green pigeon, with its fledgings in a nest. Behind me, the friend squirmed, "Eewww. Yucks. Yucks. That is so disgusting. That's so gross. Eww." I turned around, thinking that she was referring to another picture, of an insect perhaps, but nooo... she was looking at the same pigeon photo. She just kept ewww-ing. I looked at her fixedly, "Please do not say it is disgusting. This is my field of work... this is what I study and do. Do not... call it disgusting." She kept quiet. I look on. Monica patted my back.
I don't usually talk about people on my blog - I don't like to rant about people, if ever, publicly. I don't get offended that easily. But this time... It was barely 4 hours with her and that short period of time was enough to make me feel repelled. My tones and words became cold, and harsh. I was firm. I was disgusted at such immature behaviour (there was more throughout the day) and I just wanted to run away. And c'mon... you're 16... what rush is there to go clubbing? Especially if you're so afraid of getting caught. And what's with all those massively huge square earrings? And random whiney noises? And saying that this year's X'mas decorations are pretty (I personally find them quite horrendous and tasteless)? And... aww, give me a break.
But I wonder if such fashion-fad-conscious people look at us nature freaks with distaste too. Maybe something like There's more to life than just grass and butterflies. There's... shopping and dollying up!. Heh.
That aside, it was really good seeing Mon again. Neither of us has changed much... we still see the old us in each other. Nevermind about that friend. No worries, mate. :)
Sunday, December 18, 2005
London Zoo
That was last Thursday.Not the best of zoos I've visited. I prefer open zoos - and zoos in the tropics. The animals in the London Zoo look quite miserable. It occupies 15ha, barely one-eighth the size of the surrounding Regent's Park, and about half the size of the Singapore Zoological Gardens. But it's the world's first scientific zoo - and I do recognise and appreciate the work they've done - and are doing - for animal conservation around the world.
It was some talk on the history of the Zoo and the work of its parent institution, the Zoological Society of London (it was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1826 - there was mention of Singapore in there! :P). After that we had a little demo in the BUGS section about the Polynesian tree snail (Partula spp.) breeding and conservation programme.
Xi, admittedly an Applied Ecologist at heart, tagged along. So did Dr Collin's children, who despite their extremely young ages are already ecologists-in-the-making! It was free time in the arvo ("Zoo Time!!!" on the timetable). I didn't really feel excited with zoo photography. It's different... you know... the feeling... of shooting captive animals. Then again, waterbird-shooting in the parks in London doesn't quite have its appeal either - they're too tame. Side note: I don't really like geese - they chase after you once they see a plastic bag in your hand and make you stumble over their feet. And make you feel bad. I really like the tiny ducks - the teals and such, and the many un-IDed hybrids and alien species. They're so cute.
Snailman giving demo on... snails 
Malayan Tapir - I waited ridiculously long in its stinky pen just for the 'perfect' moment to take this pic!
Squirrel monkey
Finally, a decent gull-in-flight photo
Grey heron reflection in waterFriday, December 16, 2005
Regent's Park
My best portrait shot of a Grey Heron to date :)
Coots fighting - they were too far away, unfortunately
Walking heron?
Gulls
Heron in flightSome pics from Regent's Park yesterday - I don't know if I should call the flight ones art or photography... :|
More pics to come from the Applied Eco trip to London Zoo today.
Now - I gotta pack.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
4 new otter cubs in Buloh!
I don't believe I've seen so many smiley faces and exclamation marks in an email from Su Hooi (Outreach Officer, Sungei Buloh WR) before. But well - nobody can blame her for being overexcited.*points to title of post*
*does a little dance of joy*
Yep! Buloh's resident Smooth Otters (long thought to have been disappearing into the unknowns after sightings of them become increasingly infrequent, and in a smaller group too) have been sighted again. This time with four little ones - the highest number of cubs recorded to date. Usually they just re-emerge with one or two new additions to the family.
So right now there are at least six of them. And if we count the offspring from previous years, I daresay there might more than 10 of them...
(Photo credits: Tay Soon Lian aka Uncle Tay)It all ends with wine and nibbles!
Even though Applied Ecology felt like a marathon right from the beginning, and the last two weeks were hellish, I loved it. That's also despite the fact that nearly half of the syllabus was what we had for Resource Management last year. It was engaging and different, in some ways, from the other modules. I reckon Dr Simon 'aphid-man' Leather and Tilly 'new-age lecturer' Collins did an awfully good job. The debate, for one, was something you wouldn't have expected for coursework (did I mention the debate before?) - a simulation of a Crown Court trial for anti-GM environmental activists. For a moment then I was Dr Lau, an expert in... something... called upon as an expert witness to defend the accused. :P Did pretty well in the essay for that too. That was fun while it lasted; our lawyers were champion!
Our practicals were more like social sessions - we'd surf random websites for photos and we'd chat, and Dr Leather'll come by and chip in too. His brother used to work in Hong Kong, he said, and he's been to Singapore before, a year before I was born. Changi Airport was the best! Stuff like that. Or how we should go do our research project in Silwood, where rich people leave their horses in the stables and we can ride and exercise them for free. 
I did my conference talk and poster on ecotourism and strategies for sustainability. A pretty broad coverage, but it's better than doing something on the over-popular panda conservation cases or African elephants. It's something I can relate to, too. The conference lasted two full days - with many talks and poster judging. This evening we had the wine and nibbles reception, and Dr Collins brought along her two children - the baby boy's six months old now! How fast he grows! (Looking back at a photo of Dr Collins when she took us on a field trip last year; that was when she was still expecting).Here's her little girl, looking at some cute animal on a poster. How adorable is she? -->
Well, course finale will be at London Zoo on Thursday. Looking forward to it. :)
Meanwhile I can rest some and pack some. Shall be homeward-bound come Fri.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Wildlife Garden @ the Natural History Museum
Count one, two, three... four - four times I've stepped into the Natural History Museum this week. I applied to volunteer at the Wildlife Garden a while ago. Those application forms were nasty - it felt more like a job application, complete with references, EEO disclaimers etc. Well, this *is* a job, but it's an unpaid position. But why? Why do I always just volunteer? Why is it so difficult to find proper work there - like the many WLG volunteers I met today who are casual staff... who only work at the NHM one weekday each week. They say jobs come by through word-of-mouth and through contacts of staff. Maybe I'm just not lucky enough. Hopefully, by next term, I'll have identified a key person to approach.
Anyway today's work involved mainly London Plane tree leaves raking, collecting, shredding and recycling - the stuff we do, the stuff we learn is just like what I learn in lectures. Habitat creation and management. There are actually eight British lowland habitat types (fen, reedbed, freshwater ponds, hedgerow, healthland, woodland, meadow, and chalk downland) represented in the little WLG. And the best thing is - it's just right across the street... I can see it from my window. Right now some birds are breeding... we counted a number of Blackbird nests, and saw Mr and Mrs Blackbird scurrying to and fro. Miss Wren was there too, and so were a few fat robins. In summer, they actually bring in a few sheep to graze on the chalklands! Over 50 species of birds, 15 butterfly and 300 moth species have been recorded in the WLG, and not forgetting the mammals - foxes, bats, and squirrels. It being situated in a corner of the intersection of two major roads, pollution levels are high and there are a couple of projects currently being carried out to monitor its effects.
There was a talk by one of the staff - on wetlands management in Belarus. There was a heavy emphasis on peat bogs and lichens.
So that took five hours of my time today; I hope to finish up my preparations for the upcoming two-day Applied Ecology winter conference by tonight, and complete the bulk of my scientific paper come tomorrow.
*Warcraftt III peon voice* Work, work.
One misty yesterday morning
Early morning. Tube to Zone 4 - everyone was half asleep, and I took out my chicken samosa and sipped some Ribena. Sophie fetched me from the station, and we went to her place. Took studio shots of her pet guinea pig - how cute! I miss Prince; I used to have a guinea pig, long long ago. Picked Xi up on the way to the London Equestrian Centre... where Soph had riding lessons. We followed her like paparazzi. I shot many horses. How I wish I could get onto a horse... such magnificent animals!
Bare trees
A fully-rounded European Robin
Dew on a web (Yes, so what if Xi spotted it first? The idea itself remains unoriginal :P) 
Mist breath
Portrait of a horse
Left behind - a dog called JuniorEdit: Ok, one more, in response to anon's comment. ;)
Thursday, December 08, 2005
More pics can be found in the gallery.
Guardsmen of the 1st Grenadiers at Buckingham Palace
Policeman on duty at 10 Downing Street (PM Blair's office)
Pigeon on signpost at St James Park
White Pelican taking off
What you'd see at the Darwin Center
Ice-skating rink at the Natural History Museum
Baboon... caught in time
David Attenborough looking somewhat surprised
Guardsmen of the 1st Grenadiers at Buckingham Palace
Policeman on duty at 10 Downing Street (PM Blair's office)
Pigeon on signpost at St James Park
White Pelican taking off
What you'd see at the Darwin Center
Ice-skating rink at the Natural History Museum
Baboon... caught in time
David Attenborough looking somewhat surprised
I've been busy. Very busy - with work, assignments, events, lots of stuff. A friend I knew since childhood came to London on Sunday, and he's staying for a week. Hosting first-timers to London is... tedious, especially when it's not the first time and you've been-there-done-them-all. When my aunt EE came two weeks ago, she told my mom that I lost weight - I think I did too... burning the midnight oil burns lots of calories. The whole household sleeps at 2am+ nowadays... everyone has so much work to do. One more week to the end of term... and as usual, I shall be flying back to Singapore for Christmas.
Monday - toured the Natural History Museum... planned to go to the NHM, Science Museum and V&A Museum as well but who knew we'd take that long in the NHM. Must have been the nth time I'm bringing a visitor around the galleries. Bleh. The MUN session that night was absolutely engaging - we were supposed to have prepared for a debate on MNC's 'right to exploit natural resources in countries in which they operate' but no-one had anything much to say on the matter. So instead we decided to discuss the use of capital punishment in states. Naturally, I choose to represent Australia - there were about 12 countries that day. All these things I've been blogging about and more... I had the chance to debate the points. :)
Tuesday was a full day of lectures, but it being the dateline for the hand-in of one of our assignments meant that many skipped classes. Tourist destination for the day was Chinatown, since Eugene's other friend had took him to see the other London sight. In the evening, a few of us attended IC orchestra's concert - fellow applied ecologist Sophie was on the violin. Supported her by taking photos of her in action! :P Extremely well-played and well-chosen pieces of music. I wouldn't have minded if they charged higher prices for the tics.
Had the whole of Wednesday off. Went to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guards in the morn - Xi joined in and we had some great fun shooting the 'mammals in uniform' (the horses too, wore uniforms) and the squirrels and waterbirds in St James Park. Then after lunch I rushed back to college to hand in a piece of work to our department's professional printer. A corner of his office is a little like a photography studio and he's got photos hung up on the wall. As it turns out, he's not only in charge of printing services but does photography for Imperial as well, and he's a Nikonian! Interesting. Wish I'd knew about the existence of such an office and such a person in the basement of the SAF buildling earlier.
Sir David Attenborough was at the Natural History Museum, autographing the book of his new series Life in the Undergrowth (some superb documentary there)... I had wanted to get the book after I went back to Singapore but if his book was the ticket to get into the queue for his signature, then... why not? I got one from Waterstones, with £6 discount off (so that's not bad)! - and waited next to the dinosaur skeleton in the Central Hall to snap a pic of him and get him to write a message. It's just amazing how patient he is and how active he is still in the outdoors despite his erm, years. Hats off to Sir David!
I was so tired - I fell asleep at the laptop yesterday and the rest went on a Sains run without me. Paiseh. Did a bit of photo editing and then worked on my assignments...
IC Christian Union's Christmas Carolling later - lots of friends in the choir and everyone's going so I'm obliged to go. Then it's photoshooting horses tomorrow morn (free day). Then it's work work work and hopefully with no need for entertaining people. Then on Saturday it's some 'work' at the Natural History Museum. Three deadlines to meet next week. Needing a break... needing space. One of those times again - random screeches and the tendency to bite. Figuratively, of course. With any luck I'll be navigating to the blogger.com pages again in the next few days.
Monday - toured the Natural History Museum... planned to go to the NHM, Science Museum and V&A Museum as well but who knew we'd take that long in the NHM. Must have been the nth time I'm bringing a visitor around the galleries. Bleh. The MUN session that night was absolutely engaging - we were supposed to have prepared for a debate on MNC's 'right to exploit natural resources in countries in which they operate' but no-one had anything much to say on the matter. So instead we decided to discuss the use of capital punishment in states. Naturally, I choose to represent Australia - there were about 12 countries that day. All these things I've been blogging about and more... I had the chance to debate the points. :)
Tuesday was a full day of lectures, but it being the dateline for the hand-in of one of our assignments meant that many skipped classes. Tourist destination for the day was Chinatown, since Eugene's other friend had took him to see the other London sight. In the evening, a few of us attended IC orchestra's concert - fellow applied ecologist Sophie was on the violin. Supported her by taking photos of her in action! :P Extremely well-played and well-chosen pieces of music. I wouldn't have minded if they charged higher prices for the tics.
Had the whole of Wednesday off. Went to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guards in the morn - Xi joined in and we had some great fun shooting the 'mammals in uniform' (the horses too, wore uniforms) and the squirrels and waterbirds in St James Park. Then after lunch I rushed back to college to hand in a piece of work to our department's professional printer. A corner of his office is a little like a photography studio and he's got photos hung up on the wall. As it turns out, he's not only in charge of printing services but does photography for Imperial as well, and he's a Nikonian! Interesting. Wish I'd knew about the existence of such an office and such a person in the basement of the SAF buildling earlier.
Sir David Attenborough was at the Natural History Museum, autographing the book of his new series Life in the Undergrowth (some superb documentary there)... I had wanted to get the book after I went back to Singapore but if his book was the ticket to get into the queue for his signature, then... why not? I got one from Waterstones, with £6 discount off (so that's not bad)! - and waited next to the dinosaur skeleton in the Central Hall to snap a pic of him and get him to write a message. It's just amazing how patient he is and how active he is still in the outdoors despite his erm, years. Hats off to Sir David!
I was so tired - I fell asleep at the laptop yesterday and the rest went on a Sains run without me. Paiseh. Did a bit of photo editing and then worked on my assignments...
IC Christian Union's Christmas Carolling later - lots of friends in the choir and everyone's going so I'm obliged to go. Then it's photoshooting horses tomorrow morn (free day). Then it's work work work and hopefully with no need for entertaining people. Then on Saturday it's some 'work' at the Natural History Museum. Three deadlines to meet next week. Needing a break... needing space. One of those times again - random screeches and the tendency to bite. Figuratively, of course. With any luck I'll be navigating to the blogger.com pages again in the next few days.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Friday, December 02, 2005
So he was executed after all. As expected.
I did not protest against the firm decision taken by the Singapore government not to grant clemency, but neither did I welcome the childish behaviour displayed by the many Aussies critising our government's actions. To plead and hope for mercy is natural, but proposing sactions and boycotting anything Singaporean is taking it too far. Sparing him is something I will not support, that which will undermine our judicial system. So what if he was an Australian citizen? No matter what you think of our laws, that is the Law. Nguyen knew the consequences for committing the crime and he must accept his fate. He did so with courage, and so should his fellow citizens.
Debating about the execution is one issue, and the law itself is another. I fully support Amnesty International's Recommendations to the Government of Singapore (at the end of the document). Singapore should reconsider its claim that the mandatory death penalty is not a violation of human rights. Even the Lord can be forgiving, if you are trully repentant. The government is not and never will be God and yet it takes lives away. The indifference it shows to humanity is just... depressing. It was just silent. I don't believe the Singaporean Government had expected this scale of media and international attention for this case, so let this be an awakening...
(How saddening and frustrating is it for me to know that some of my Singaporean friends didn't even know that Singapore has a dealth penalty, and also that there was such a hullabaloo in the previous few days and weeks? ... ... >_<")
"I feel sorry for cancer suffers and their families. I feel sorry for parents that bury their own children. I feel sorry for families who lose loved ones in tragic accidents." ~ MC
I did not protest against the firm decision taken by the Singapore government not to grant clemency, but neither did I welcome the childish behaviour displayed by the many Aussies critising our government's actions. To plead and hope for mercy is natural, but proposing sactions and boycotting anything Singaporean is taking it too far. Sparing him is something I will not support, that which will undermine our judicial system. So what if he was an Australian citizen? No matter what you think of our laws, that is the Law. Nguyen knew the consequences for committing the crime and he must accept his fate. He did so with courage, and so should his fellow citizens.
Debating about the execution is one issue, and the law itself is another. I fully support Amnesty International's Recommendations to the Government of Singapore (at the end of the document). Singapore should reconsider its claim that the mandatory death penalty is not a violation of human rights. Even the Lord can be forgiving, if you are trully repentant. The government is not and never will be God and yet it takes lives away. The indifference it shows to humanity is just... depressing. It was just silent. I don't believe the Singaporean Government had expected this scale of media and international attention for this case, so let this be an awakening...
(How saddening and frustrating is it for me to know that some of my Singaporean friends didn't even know that Singapore has a dealth penalty, and also that there was such a hullabaloo in the previous few days and weeks? ... ... >_<")
"I feel sorry for cancer suffers and their families. I feel sorry for parents that bury their own children. I feel sorry for families who lose loved ones in tragic accidents." ~ MC
Thursday, December 01, 2005
If you look at IMDB's bio of Ewan McGregor, you'll find:
(May 2005) Starring as Sky Masterson in "Guys and Dolls" in London West End
It's almost common knowledge in London that he's currently acting in the theatres. We had delayed this West End trip long enough - his last show is on Saturday and the tickets for this last week were going for almost double the normal price... that is, if you could still find tickets.
Five of us from Queen's Gate were lucky enough (and so it seems, were a few from M'Soc and surprisingly, Amar who appeared out of nowhere without warning in central London), and tonight we were treated to 2+ hours of the Scottish actor's stage charm. How charismatic! :P It's hard to believe that that's Obi-wan Kenobi - replace his 1930's suit and trousers and chuck him in a Jedi robe...
This brings to count my second West End visit in less than a week. The previous one was the Blue Man Group last Thurs, something which I can't quite explain but involves a certain amount of mess - stunts with paints, pipes, lots of noise, interactions with the audience, ponchos for those in the front rows (we were there), and of course, the Blue Men. And I daresay kilometres of toilet paper had passed over our heads (hmm actually it's not merely 'passed', it was more like pressed onto our heads by the people from the back rows) amidst strobe lighting and extremely loud music. It isn't any typical theatre production. It's something you gotta experience.
Another celebrity, Kevin Spacey has been playing Richard II at the Old Vic threatre. Tempting, but my wallet is rattling its coins with disapproval...
(May 2005) Starring as Sky Masterson in "Guys and Dolls" in London West End
It's almost common knowledge in London that he's currently acting in the theatres. We had delayed this West End trip long enough - his last show is on Saturday and the tickets for this last week were going for almost double the normal price... that is, if you could still find tickets.
Five of us from Queen's Gate were lucky enough (and so it seems, were a few from M'Soc and surprisingly, Amar who appeared out of nowhere without warning in central London), and tonight we were treated to 2+ hours of the Scottish actor's stage charm. How charismatic! :P It's hard to believe that that's Obi-wan Kenobi - replace his 1930's suit and trousers and chuck him in a Jedi robe...
This brings to count my second West End visit in less than a week. The previous one was the Blue Man Group last Thurs, something which I can't quite explain but involves a certain amount of mess - stunts with paints, pipes, lots of noise, interactions with the audience, ponchos for those in the front rows (we were there), and of course, the Blue Men. And I daresay kilometres of toilet paper had passed over our heads (hmm actually it's not merely 'passed', it was more like pressed onto our heads by the people from the back rows) amidst strobe lighting and extremely loud music. It isn't any typical theatre production. It's something you gotta experience.
Another celebrity, Kevin Spacey has been playing Richard II at the Old Vic threatre. Tempting, but my wallet is rattling its coins with disapproval...
